Violence Against Goris Deputy Mayor in the Office of Yerevan Police Chief's Deputy Arthur Zakaryan

The deputy mayor of Goris, Menua Hovsepyan, was subjected to violence in the Yerevan police headquarters, as confirmed during an on-site inspection held today in relation to the criminal case initiated following the incident.

According to lawyer David Karapetyan, the investigator organized the inspection at the Yerevan police department, and at first glance, an objective investigation appears to be underway. During the inspection, Hovsepyan identified all the offices where he was taken, including the room where the violence occurred.

“Moreover, the door was open upon entering, and no sign was visible. However, today during the inspection, the door was closed, and the sign was behind the door. Thus, it has been confirmed that the individual in whose office this incident took place is Arthur Zakaryan,” the lawyer noted. “An inspection was also conducted in his office, where he presented and described the wall map and so on, and he covered my eyes and led me to show it.”

It is important to mention that Arthur Zakaryan is the Deputy Head of the Operational Division of the Yerevan city police department. As previously reported, Hovsepyan was arrested on April 22 in connection with protests against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in Syunik. He was transferred from Goris to the Yerevan police department, where he was subjected to physical and psychological brutality.

The lawyer alerted authorities about the case, detailing the demeaning treatment endured by the many-children father and participant in the war, stating that he was subjected to humiliation such as having a foot placed on his head and being asked, “Were you playing the hero and subjected to physical violence?” Offensive expressions were directed at him, and everything was recorded. The lawyer filed a report on the crime with the Special Investigation Service, based on which a criminal case was initiated under Articles 309, Part 2, and 314, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code, concerning the use of violence while overstepping official authority and committing official forgery. Menua Hovsepyan has been recognized as a victim in this criminal case.